Container

ABSTRACT

A blank ( 100 ) for a container ( 500 ) for the transit of goods, the blank configured to form a container having a base and sidewalls, the blank comprising: a flexible retainer ( 104 ) fixed to the blank and configured such that when the container is formed, first and second portions ( 104   a,    104   b ) of the flexible retainer are positioned on opposing sidewalls of the container and are foldable over an item placed within the container to retain the item in position, wherein a cohesive material is applied to a first side ( 112 ) of the first portion of the flexible retainer and to a second side ( 114 ) of the second portion of the flexible retainer, wherein the second side is opposite the first side.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to containers, more specifically boxes, for the transit of goods. In particular, the invention relates to, but is not limited to, containers for the transit of consumer goods by postal or courier networks. The invention also relates to blanks for such containers.

BACKGROUND

Consumer purchases over the Internet are increasing year-on-year and, as such, Internet retailers are dealing with higher and higher volumes of goods that must be packaged for transit by post or courier.

When dealing with such high volumes, speed of packaging is a key factor. In addition, cost of packaging and protection from damage of goods contained within the packaging are important.

In view of the above, there is a need to improve packaging methods to provide increased efficiency of packaging, at lower cost and with improved security.

SUMMARY

According to the invention in a first aspect, there is provided a blank for a container for the transit of goods, the blank configured to form a container having a base and sidewalls, the blank comprising: a flexible retainer fixed to the blank and configured such that when the container is formed, first and second portions of the flexible retainer are positioned on opposing sidewalls of the container and are foldable over an item placed within the box to retain the item in position, wherein a cohesive material is applied to a first side of the first portion of the flexible retainer and to a second side of the second portion of the flexible retainer, wherein the second side is opposite the first side.

The flexible retainer may be a single piece of material or a plurality of discrete pieces of material. The use of cohesive material on opposing sides of the flexible retainer, such that one faces the internal volume of the constructed container and the other faces away from the internal volume of the constructed container means that the two portions of cohesive material face each other when the flexible retainer is folded over an item in the container.

Optionally, the flexible retainer comprises a sheet of flexible material.

Optionally, the first portion of the flexible retainer comprises a first discrete section and the second portion of the flexible retainer comprises a second discrete section.

Optionally, the first and second discrete sections are fixed to opposing sidewall sections of the blank or to one or more base sections of the blank.

Optionally, the first discrete section is fixed to a first sidewall section and to one or both sidewalls sections adjacent to the first sidewall section of the blank.

Optionally, the cohesive material is applied at least to an upper portion of the first and second portions of the flexible retainer.

Optionally, the upper portion is at least half the area of the first and/or second portions of the flexible retainer.

Optionally, the cohesive material is applied to the entire area of the first and second portions of the flexible retainer.

Optionally, the flexible retainer is fixed to one or more sidewall sections of the blank proximate to a base section of the blank.

Optionally, the flexible retainer is fixed to the blank by adhesive.

Optionally, the flexible retainer has a depth that is greater than a depth of a sidewall section.

Optionally, the flexible retainer has a depth that is one of: at least 1.5 times the depth of the sidewall section; at least twice the depth of the sidewall section; and at least 2.5 times the depth of the sidewall section.

Optionally, the flexible retainer extends beyond an upper limit of the blank.

According to the invention in a second aspect, there is provided a blank for a container for the transit of goods, the blank configured to form a container having a base and sidewalls, the blank comprising: a flexible retainer fixed to the blank and configured such that when the container is formed, first and second discrete sections of the flexible retainer are positioned on opposing sidewalls of the container and are foldable over an item placed within the box to retain the item in position, wherein a cohesive material is applied to at least one side of each of the first and second discrete sections.

According to the invention in a third aspect, there is provided a container formed from a blank described above.

According to the invention in a fourth aspect, there is provided an intermediate blank formed from a blank described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a blank for a container for transit of goods;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a blank for a container for transit of goods;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a blank for a container for transit of goods as it is being constructed into a container; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an intermediate blank;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a constructed container;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a constructed container with an item inside;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a constructed container with an item inside and a flexible retainer folded over the item.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally, disclosed herein is a container and a blank for a container comprising a flexible retainer configured to be foldable over an item placed within the box to retain the item in position. The flexible retainer may be in a plurality of discrete sections that are not connected. Each discrete section may have a cohesive material applied to opposing sides thereof, such that when the container is formed the cohesive material of a first discrete section faces into the internal volume of the box and the cohesive material of a second discrete section faces outwards from the internal volume of the container. This allows the cohesive material of each discrete section to contact the cohesive material of the other discrete section when they are folded over an item within the container.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a blank 100 for a container. The blank 100 comprises four sidewall sections 102 a-d. In FIG. 1, the sidewall sections 102 b-d are shrouded by a flexible retainer 104, which is split into first and second discrete sections 104 a-b. The sidewall sections 102 a-d become the sidewalls of the container when the blank 100 is formed into the container. Each of the sidewall sections 102 a-d is connected to at least one other sidewall section 102 a-d by way of a foldable seam.

The blank 100 also comprises four base sections 106 a-d. Each of the base sections 106 a-d is joined to a corresponding sidewall section 102 a-d by way of a foldable seam. When forming the blank 100 into a container, this allows the base sections 106 a-d to be folded to form a base of the container at right angles to the sidewall sections 102 a-d.

The blank 100 also comprises four top sections 108 a-d. Each of the top sections 108 a-d is joined to a corresponding sidewall section 102 a-d by way of a foldable seam. When forming the blank 100 into a container, this allows the top sections 108 a-d to be folded to form a top or lid of the container at right angles to the sidewall sections 102 a-d. In exemplary container blanks 100, one or more of the top sections 108 a-d may comprise a securing means for securing the lid of the box in a closed position. The securing means may comprise an adhesive in the form of a peel and seal strip. One or more of the top sections 108 a-d may comprise an opening means to facilitate easy opening of the box. The opening means may comprise a rip strip comprising a tab that may be pulled by a user and a strip configured to rip open the container when the tab is pulled.

The blank 100 may be a crashlock/autolock base blank configured to form a container.

The flexible retainer 104 comprises a plurality of discrete sections 104 a-b. Each discrete section 104 a-b is fixed to at least one sidewall section 102 a-d of the blank 100. In the exemplary blank of FIG. 1, a first discrete section 104 a is fixed to two sidewall sections 102 b, 102 c and a second discrete section 104 b is fixed to one sidewall section 102 d. The plurality of sidewall sections 102 a-d to which the flexible retainer 104 is fixed comprises at least two opposing sidewall sections. That is, the flexible retainer 104 is fixed to at least two sidewall sections 102 a-d that will form opposing sidewalls of the container when the blank 100 is formed into a container. The discrete sections 104 a-b of the flexible retainer 104 may be fixed to the plurality of sidewall sections 102 a-d by an adhesive 110, although other methods may be used. The discrete sections 104 a-b of the flexible retainer 104 are fixed to the plurality of sidewall sections 102 a-d at a base region of the sidewalls. In alternative exemplary blanks, the discrete sections 104a-b may be fixed to one or more of the base sections 106 a-d of the blank 100. That is, the flexible retainer 104 may be fixed to the plurality of sidewall sections 102 a-d at a region near the base sections 106 a-d. This allows the flexible retainer 104 to be folded over an item within the container.

The discrete sections 104 a-b of the flexible retainer 104 have a cohesive material applied to opposing surfaces thereof. That is, the first discrete section 104 a has a cohesive material applied to a first (e.g. an inner) surface 112 and the second discrete section 104 b has a cohesive material applied to a second (e.g. a outer) surface 114. In other exemplary blanks, the cohesive material may be applied to the discrete sections 104 a-b in a reverse configuration, for example the cohesive material may be applied to the outer surface of the first discrete section 104 a and to the inner side of the second discrete section 104 b.

As used herein, the term “cohesive material” encompasses materials that adhere to themselves but substantially do not adhere to other materials. For example, if an inner surface of the flexible retainer 104 is coated with a cohesive material, then that cohesive material will adhere to other features of the blank 100 also coated with the cohesive material; however it will not adhere to features of the blank not coated with the cohesive material, such as the sidewall, base and top sections.

As shown in FIG. 2 by the vertical arrows, the discrete sections 104 a-b are fixed to the plurality of sidewall sections 102 a-d by placing the discrete sections 104 a-b on the sidewall sections 102 a-d and securing them with adhesive 110. At least a portion of each discrete section 104 a-b of the flexible retainer 104 is free and is not fixed to the blank 100. In the exemplary blank 100 of FIG. 1, a strip of adhesive in a range from 1 cm to 2 cm thick is used to fix the flexible retainer 104 to the blank 100.

The cohesive material may be applied to substantially all of the corresponding surface 112, 114 of each discrete section 104 a-b of the flexible retainer 104. In other arrangements, the cohesive material may be applied to an upper portion of the surface 112, 114.

In other exemplary blanks, the flexible retainer 104 may be formed of a single section. In such arrangements, first and second portions of the flexible retainer 104 have cohesive material applied to opposing surfaces. Further, in other exemplary blanks, a third discrete section of flexible retainer 104 may be applied to the remaining sidewall section 102 a. In such arrangements, a cohesive material may be applied to the same surface as the second discrete section 104 b, the outer surface 114 in the example of FIGS. 1 and 2.

The flexible retainer 104 (in whatever form) may extend beyond an upper limit of the blank 100. That is, the flexible retainer 104 may extend beyond the top sections 108 a-d. The flexible retainer 104 may have a depth greater than the depth of the sidewall sections 102 a-d. The flexible retainer may have a depth greater than the depth of the sidewall sections 102 a-d and the top sections 108 a-d combined.

It is noted that relative terms such as upper, lower, inner and outer are used herein to aid description of the exemplary blanks and containers and need not limit the scope of the claimed invention. In particular, the terms inner and outer may refer to the inner and outer faces of a constructed container and the terms upper and lower may refer to the top and base of a constructed container.

In exemplary blanks, the blank 100 itself may be formed from cardboard. Specifically, the blank 100 may be formed from corrugated cardboard or solid board. In exemplary blanks, the flexible retainer 104 may comprise a sheet of flexible material, such as paper, card or a plastics material. In exemplary blanks, the cohesive material may comprise a synthetic or non-synthetic glue.

FIG. 3 shows a blank 100 part way formed into a container. A first sidewall section 102 a is folded at right angles to a second sidewall section 102 b. Also, a fourth sidewall section 102 d is folded at right angles to a third sidewall section 102 c. In FIG. 3, the third sidewall section 102 c is shown as being flush with the second sidewall section 102 b, however this will also be folded at right angles as part of the construction of the container. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the first discrete section 104 a is fixed to the second and third sidewall sections 102 b, 102 c. The second discrete section 104 b is fixed to the fourth sidewall section 102 d. As such, the discrete sections 104 a, 104 b are fixed to opposed sidewalls of the constructed container and the first discrete 104 a section is also fixed to the third sidewall section 102 c, which is adjacent to the opposed sidewall sections 102 b, 102 d.

The blank 100 may be partially constructed into an intermediate blank (or glued blank) 400 suitable for transit in high volumes, as shown in FIG. 4. The intermediate blank is formed by folding the first and fourth sidewall sections 102 a, 102 d inwards and over the second and third sidewall sections 102 b, 102 c, as shown in FIG. 3. A tab (or glue flap) 116 extends from an edge of the fourth sidewall section 102 d and is fixed to an inner surface of the first sidewall section 102 a. In addition, base tabs 118 a-b, which form part of the base sections 106 a, 106 c, are fixed to corresponding adjacent base sections 106 a, 106 d such that the base is formed in the container as the intermediate blank is opened to form rectangularly arranged sidewalls.

FIG. 5 shows a fully constructed container 500. In the exemplary container 500 the flexible retainer 104 is shown positioned on the second, third and fourth sidewall sections 102 b-d and extending to the upper limit of the corresponding top sections 108 b-d. The first discrete section 104 a is positioned on the second and third sidewall section 102 b-c and the second discrete section 104 b is positioned on the further sidewall section 102 d. There is no significant amount of flexible retainer positioned on the first sidewall section 102 a, however an amount of the flexible retainer may come at least partially around the sidewall section 102 d by the length of the glue flap 116, as shown in FIG. 3.

Because the cohesive material is on opposite surfaces of the first and second discrete sections 104 a-b, when the flexible retainer is folded over an item within the container 500 the cohesive material of the first discrete section 104 a faces the cohesive material of the second discrete section 104 b. For example, the first discrete section 104 a may have cohesive material on an inner surface and the second discrete section 104 b may have cohesive material on an outer surface. In such an arrangement, an item is placed into the container 500, as shown in FIG. 6. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the second discrete section 104 b may be folded over the item first, such that the cohesive material is facing upwards and the first discrete section 104 a is folded over the item and the second discrete section, such that the cohesive material is facing downwards. Therefore, a higher proportion of cohesive material from each discrete section is in contact with the cohesive material of the other section.

The skilled person will be able to envisage other exemplary blanks and containers without departing from the appended claims. 

1. A blank for a container for the transit of goods, the blank configured to form a container having a base and sidewalls, the blank comprising: a flexible retainer fixed to the blank and configured such that when the container is formed, first and second portions of the flexible retainer are positioned on opposing sidewalls of the container and are foldable over an item placed within the container to retain the item in position, wherein a cohesive material is applied to a first side of the first portion of the flexible retainer and to a second side of the second portion of the flexible retainer, wherein the second side is opposite the first side.
 2. A blank according to claim 1, wherein the flexible retainer comprises a sheet of flexible material.
 3. A blank according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the flexible retainer comprises a first discrete section and the second portion of the flexible retainer comprises a second discrete section.
 4. A blank according to claim 3, wherein the first and second discrete sections are fixed to opposing sidewall sections of the blank or to one or more base sections of the blank.
 5. A blank according to claim 4, wherein the first discrete section is fixed to a first sidewall section and to one or both sidewalls sections adjacent to the first sidewall section of the blank.
 6. A blank according to claim 1, wherein the cohesive material is applied at least to an upper portion of the first and second portions of the flexible retainer.
 7. A blank according to claim 6, wherein the upper portion is at least half the area of the first and/or second portions of the flexible retainer.
 8. A blank according to claim 6, wherein the cohesive material is applied to the entire area of the first and second portions of the flexible retainer.
 9. A blank according to claim 1, wherein the flexible retainer is fixed to one or more sidewall sections of the blank proximate to a base section of the blank.
 10. A blank according to claim 9, wherein the flexible retainer is fixed to the blank by adhesive.
 11. A blank according to claim 1, wherein the flexible retainer has a depth that is greater than a depth of a sidewall section.
 12. A blank according to claim 11, wherein the flexible retainer has a depth that is one of: at least 1.5 times the depth of the sidewall section; at least twice the depth of the sidewall section; and at least 2.5 times the depth of the sidewall section.
 13. A blank according to claim 1, wherein the flexible retainer extends beyond an upper limit of the blank.
 14. A blank for a container for the transit of goods, the blank configured to form a container having a base and sidewalls, the blank comprising: a flexible retainer fixed to the blank and configured such that when the container is formed, first and second discrete sections of the flexible retainer are positioned on opposing sidewalls of the container and are foldable over an item placed within the box to retain the item in position, wherein a cohesive material is applied to at least one side of each of the first and second discrete sections.
 15. A container formed from a blank according to claim
 1. 16. An intermediate blank formed from a blank according to claim
 1. 17-19. (canceled)
 20. A container formed from a blank according to claim
 14. 21. An intermediate blank formed from a blank according to claim
 14. 